Illuminated built-in mail box



Aug. 18, 1931. J. H. WEGEHOF'T ILLUMINATED BUILTJN um. BOX

Filed Feb. 4. 1929 Patented Aug. 18, 1931 PATENT OFFECE JOHN H. WEGEHOFT, OF ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI ILLUMINA'IED BUILT-IN MAIL BOX Application filed February 4, 1929. Serial No. 337,538.

This invention relates to improvements in built-in mail-boxes, more particularly to the illuminating feature by having a one piece glass face plate especially designed to serve '5 several purposes, also a lighting combination with lights of two sizes to serve two distinct purposes.

One of the principal objects of this invention is to eliminate metal frames and glass panels which are now used in the construction of combination mail-boxes, because metal frames obstruct the light.

Another object of this invention is to illuminate the name and house-number and at '15 the same time illuminate a large surface thereby taking the place of a porch light, with no metal frame to obstruct the light at any angle.

A still further object of this invention is to illuminate the door-bell button so it can be located easily at any time, as this button is set in glass and not surrounded by a metal frame to obstruct the light.

A still further object of this invention is to 5 provide a combination mail-box capable of carrying out the above stated objects, at the same time being substantial, weatherproof and fireproof. For that reason very little of the device is exposed to outside weather and whatever is exposed is absolutely weatherproof.

The invention consists of a one piece glass plate especially designed with a protruding or face portion about the thickness of plate glass, this portion providing ample space for name and house-number to be painted on. Around this face portion is a flange or bevel extending backand outwardly so as to throw light over a large surface. This flange or r bevel gradually increases in thickness towards outer rim which is about inch thick and abuts fiat against built-in receptacle secured by four small metal plates on inside of mail receptacle as hereinafter described.

The built-in mail receptacle in the form of a box which is built in the wall is made of one piece tile which makes the entire device fireproof; however, inch boards may be used if preferred. The built-in mail receptacle is made in different sizes and lengths to suit wall it is built in, in the outward end of this receptacle are two lights mounted to the side walls of receptacle opposite each other and directly back of glass plate. These two lights are two sizes to furnish proper illumination for two distinct purposes, the large or regular size light is used for porchlight on a separate switch, the small light to be used for illumination of name and house-number and connected to the most used light switch on premlses.

A removable metal guard is provided over the lights secured to the side walls of mail receptacle, which also acts as a slide for mail deposited to slide over lights towards inner door of receptacle.

The following is a brief description of the drawings:

Fig. l is a front elevation,

Fig. 2 is a front view with the face plate removed, and

Fig. 3 isa vertlcal section, showing arrangement of faceplate, lamp, and switch.

The following is a detailed description of the device;

Figure leis a front view of one piece glass face plate showing the face or protruding portion which is about the thickness of plate glass and has ample space for name and house number to be painted on, around this face or protruding portion is a flange or bevel extending back and outwardly and gradually increasing in thickness towards outer rim which is about inch thick and abuts flat against built-in receptacle, also showing mail-slot opening with lid cover in upper flange or bevel and bell shaped raised center with doorbell button in lower flange or bevel.

Figure 2 is a front view of built-in mail receptacle with glass face plate removed, showing the location of two lights and wire connections, one small light and one large or regular size light directly opposite each other mounted to the side walls of built-in receptacle, also showing the metal guard directly back of lights in a perpendicular position secured to side walls of receptacle, the

upper part of this guard extending forward on an angle to a point just below mail slot opening in glass face plate thereby forming a slide for mail deposited to slide over lights towards inner door of receptacle.

Figure 3 is half out side view showing more clearly the form and thickness of glass face plate, and how it abuts the front or outward end of built-in receptacle secured by small metal plates on inside, also showing location of light socket on one side wall and the position of metal guard over light.

Referring to the numerals in the drawings, No. 1 in Figure 1 is the one piece glass f l t f" ll 1 l ri lin Fi ure 1. No.

C6 p a 6, Lin CLQSC 06C 9 in Figures 2 and 3 is built-in mail receptacle in the form of a square boX or casing preferably of one piece tile to make the entire device fireproof, however inch boards may be used. This receptacle is made in lengths to suit the wall it is built into. In the front or forward end of this receptacle there are secured to each side wall a light socket 10 with light bulb 11 directly opposite each other. C11 one side is a lar e or regular size light to serve as a porch light and to be wired to a separate switch, on the opposite sid is a small light for automatic illumination of name and house number, to be wired to the most used light switch on the premises. t is understood that in most all cases it is de sired to have the name and house number illuminated at night when the home or build ing is occupied, for the benefit of visitors or callers, however, it would be unwise to use a large or regular size light which would use 5 more current and be more expensive, therefore, a small light is provided just large enough to furnish the proper light for this purpose and to be connected with the most used light switch so as to make it work automatically with other lights on the same switch. This saves the extra labor of turning a separate switch on and off as desired, which would also be easily forgotten.

Four small metal plates designated by the numeral 18 in Figures 2 and 3 form the means of securing glass face plate 1 to builtin recepacle 9 as hereafter set forth, two of said plates secured to upper wall of receptacle 9 by small brass bolts, each plate being in line with a hole in glass face plate 1 on each side of mailslot opening. A copper rod 22 in Figure 1 forms the hinge for cover 3 over mail-slot opening. Both ends of this rod are threaded and bent on a square angle. At each end of mail-slot cover 3 this rod passes through a hole in glass face plate 1 also through smai metal plate 13, the taps being put on from inside to make it impossible to remove glass face plate 1 from outside without breaking. The other two of the heretofore mentioned metal plates are secured to the bottom wall of built-in receptacle 9 in the same manner as the upper plates and in line with two holes in the lower flange or bevel or glass face plate 1, two small brass bolts 1% being used to secure glass face plate to small metal plates 13 with taps put on from inside.

T he cover 3 in Figure 1 over mail-slot openin is made of aluminum or other rustproof material with crown edge to fit over inch ridge around mail slot opening to eep water from running into said opening, this ridge is designated by the numeral 4 and shows more clearly in Figure 3.

A hard rubber doorbell button 5 in Figures 1 and 3 provided with small center pin which passes through a coil spring 6, said spring being seated in glass face plate 1. The inner end of doorbell button center pin is provided with double nut for one bell wire connection, the other bell wire being connected to a metal post 7 secured to bottom wall of receptacle 9,

said post 7 being in line with doorbell buttonin glass face plate 1. It can now be seen when doorbell button 5 is pressed in against coil spring 6, the inner end of center pin holding one hell wire presses against small bolt in metal post 7 which holds the other bell wire thereby causing doorbell to ring.

A metal guard 8 in Figures 2 and 3 set in perpendicular position back of lights 11 secured to sidewalls of receptacle 9, the upper part of this guard extending forward on an angle to a point ust below mail-slot opening in glass face plate 1 thereby forming a slide for mail deposited to slide over lights toward inner door of receptacle, also keeping mail deposited from coming in Contact with the lights.

Number 12 in Figures 2 and 3 are porcelain tubes set in bottom wall of receptacle 9 through which wires pass when wood is used for the construction of the receptacle;

This describes the entire device except the inner door for removing mail, this of course should always match the interior finishing of the home or building it is placed in, and is therefore not described, however, it being understood that this device is made in different sizes, also various changes or improvements maybe made without departing from the principles of the invention.

What is claimed as new and useful is:

1. ln an illuminated built-in mail-box, a one piece glass face plate having a face or protruding portion for name and housenumber to be painted on, a back and outwardly extending flange or bevel around face portion to throw light over a large surface, a mail slot opening with cover in upper flange or bevel and a bell shaped raised center with is mounted for illumination of the name, house-number, and doorbell button, and a large electric light on the opposite side Wall having a separate switch.

3. In an illuminated built-in mail-box according to claim 1, a removable metal guard over lights, set in perpendicular position secured to each side Wall of receptacle with upper part extending forward on an angle to a point below mail slot in glass face-plate thereby forming a slide for mail deposited to slide over lights towards inner door of receptacle.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto afiixed my signature.

JOHN H. WEGEHOFT. 

